Britain's Ministry of Justice on Friday suspended a supplier of halal meat to prisons after traces of pork were found inside meat pies and pasties.All prisons have been notified and the halal-labelled products were withdrawn immediately, according to an MoJ spokesman.
Justice minister Jeremy Wright said, "This is an absolutely unacceptable situation and one which we regret greatly. Clearly this must be distressing for those affected and they can be reassured we are doing everything we can to resolve the situation. The Prison Service is investigating this as a matter of urgency."
Too late! They're all going to Hell!
A spokeswoman for the Food Standards Agency said the latest incident involved traces of pork. She said, "The FSA has been informed that a number of meat pies and pasties supplied to UK prisons which were labelled and served as Halal contained traces of pork DNA. The local authority (where the supplier is based) is investigating how this contamination came about and whether these products have been distributed further across the UK."
Sounds like we got a disgruntled infidel working at Achmed's Halal Foods...
"It is the responsibility of food businesses to ensure the food they sell contains what it says on the label. We are considering, with relevant local authorities, whether legal action is appropriate following the investigation," she added.
The Prison Reform Trust campaign group welcomed the swift probe. Its director Juliet Lyon said, "This is not a matter of dietary preference but of Islamic law. There are clear hospital and prison rules that halal meat must be on the menu.
"This lapse will have offended and distressed high numbers of Muslim prisoners and their families so apologizing, suspending the supplier and investigating the incident are the right steps for the MoJ to take."
Jeez, hope they don't so on a hunger strike or...sumthin.
According to MoJ figures from June 2011, some 12.5% of the prison population in England and Wales are Muslims.